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July 30, 2010

Let’s say you apply to an average of 70 jobs a week, which results in only three interviews and NO callbacks. You might then ask yourself, “What am I doing wrong?” In the country’s current economic state, the employment rate is sluggish, which becomes evident when job-seekers are putting in the effort to find employment but employers seem to be just not hiring. Having been on both sides of the coin, I can understand how frustrating this situation can be for a job-seeker. Speaking from a recruiter’s standpoint, we are simply looking for qualified individuals who are hard workers and who fit our clients’ requirements. Sounds simple, right?

Well, it turns out that despite your best efforts in looking for jobs, your chances of getting hired can in fact be slim. Yahoo News takes a further look into this issue and summarizes the top 5 reasons you may not get hired.

Here are some helpful hints from Comrise on what you can do better to succeed in the job application and interview process, both with companies and recruiters:

1- Be yourself-Let your charisma and intellect speak for themselves, rather than misrepresenting yourself. Plus, if you get hired under false pretenses, it is only a matter of time before they figure it out…

2- Go into your interview prepared-Research the company for which you’ll be interviewing. See how their goals and values line up with your own, then focus on those parallels. Shared values and goals are more likely to get you hired than a glowing reference.

3- Only apply for those jobs for which you are suited-If you can tell the sort of experience level a job requires, don’t apply for any positions that are too senior or too junior for you. You’ll end up wasting your own time and finding yourself frustrated when it doesn’t work out.

4- Network wherever you go-If you share a cab with someone or strike up a conversation on line for a latte, take a second to introduce yourself. A quick business card swap might just be your golden ticket. In IT as much as anywhere else, it’s all about who you know.

5- Be confident in your skill set and clearly express what you have to offer - Have a healthy amount of self confidence (but don’t come off as arrogant!) and be to the point in expressing yourself (but don’t leave out pertinent details!). Make sure to emphasize how you can bring value to your potential employer.